Swine flu: Maharashtra govt to increase isolation wards in hospitals

The Maharashtra government today told the state Legislative Council that in order to check the spread of swine flu, it has decided to increase the isolation wards in all private and government hospitals.

State health minister Deepak Sawant said while replying to a question during the calling attention motion that, along with increased isolation wards, five per cent of the beds will be reserved in all hospitals for swine flu patients.

"Between January 1 to February 21, the government found 911 patients suffering from swine flu, of which 521 were sent home after being successfully treated," he said. During the same period, 1.10 lakh suspected patients were tested, of which 9,301 were given treatment.

Altogether, 99 patients died due to swine flu in the same period, he added. The minister said that the government is mulling enactment of an Emergency Services Act soon to facilitate better coordination between various state government departments for controlling the contagious disease.

Sawant added that 35 per cent effect of the disease is seen in villages, while 65 per cent effect has been observed in the urban areas of the state. Sawant even pointed out that Tea-tree Oil vaccine available for swine flu is not being used by the doctors.

"There are two views about this vaccine. One is in favour of it and other against. But patients with hypertension and pregnant women having swine flu should use the vaccine. However, there is only one doctor in Mumbai who is using this vaccine," he said.